Barik-Verse Relationship

[Xyviel]

Spoilers, obviously, but I have to ask: am I the only one who was taken by surprise by the reveal that Barik and Verse are, in fact, (half-)siblings?

The conversation option came out of nowhere while I was talking with Barik. Apparently, the Playable Character got hints that there was something more going on between Barik and Verse than the usual Disfavored-Scarlet Chorus rivalry.

I'm glad that the PC did, because I certainly did not. This really came out of nowhere for me, and I like to think that I have been fairly thorough in reading the different conversations popping up with my party members until then.

Am I the only one?

 

[Shinros]

Yes it did catch me by surprise as well Barik's response was great when you use subterfuge to get them to train together. Plus if you look at their portraits they have the same blue eyes.

 

[Xyviel]

So the only foreshadowing/signs that you get about Barik and Verse's bloodties is the color of their eyes in their respective portraits? Surely there is something else, something mentioned in a written description that I must have missed?

I mean I do like the idea of subtle foreshadowing that a player like me may or may not miss, but that is really subtle.

 

[wimplestiltskin]

The fact that they both display proto Archon-esque powers also ties them together in some fashion and the ever so slight foreshadowed explaination about Verses battlefield hesitation. Alluded to as being a result of the link between herslf and Barik. It pretty much cam eout of the blue beyond those two, rather strenuous connections.

As to their unique gifts, Bariks inhuman endurance in the face of the Edict of storms and Verse's mini-nerat power. The link between them possibly being due to shared heritage.

 

[thevmag]

There's also some subtext in the way they interact. There is teasing, but read into it: even before you learn of their relation, there is a lot of familiarity shown between them, and their rivalries and bickering does not extend to the full hatred that normal Disfavored and Chorus normally share. It's very much a friendly teasing between them,

 

[wimplestiltskin]

Its alot more benign, but I'd hesitate at calling it friendly!

 

[Yenzen]

If you side with the disfavored, Ashe suggests killing Verse. Barik visible cringes at this and seems hesitant when Ashe asks him why he reacted.

 

[Riggsiron]

It was a nice twist for sure.
Get loyalty with them and make them train together ...they have a cool combo.

 

[Wissenschaft]

I wasn't too surprised by this since they seemed to have an almost sibling rivalry. Well, turns out thats because they are step siblings. lol

It makes sense that you can use Verse to help snap Barik out of his depression after killing Ashe since they are siblings.

 

[Yenzen]

I wasn't too surprised by this since they seemed to have an almost sibling rivalry. Well, turns out thats because they are step siblings. lol

It makes sense that you can use Verse to help snap Barik out of his depression after killing Ashe since they are siblings.

Barik also start to... indicate his unhappiness about the plans of Graven Ashe when you are sent to finish off Cairn. He still follows orders, but he's in doubt about the way Graven Ashe has asked you to do it.

I get that he's in many ways bigoted and willing to perform horrible acts out of loyalty, but I've some respect for the fact that he still has the remains of a moral compass and I wound up getting his loyalty quite high despite being opposed to the Disfavored by not being a dick to people, including disfavored, when there was no point.

 

[Wissenschaft]

That does explain why you can keep Barik with you even through a Rebel or Anarchy playthrough. I also notice in act 1, while talking to Cerveus, the commander who gives you the earthshaker side quest, that Verse will ask Barik about how his family is doing. Barik will say not to ask that question since she has no right. Verse will retort "Don't I?". Her response makes more sense now that we know they are step siblings. lol